Letter: State salary story needs comparison

To the editor

Published 8:35 pm, Monday, December 5, 2011

I read the Dec. 3 above-the-fold headline and story on state worker salaries and learned that state workers' average pay for 2010 was $55,662. The story included comparisons with the salaries of state workers from other states, but did not mention what the average salary in New York was for all workers, not just state employees.

This seemed like an important piece of information, so that your readers could evaluate whether state workers are "better off" than the rest of the state's work force.

According to the state Labor Department, the state average weekly wage for 2010 was $1,159, which translates to an average annual wage of $60,268. This is $4,212 higher than the average state worker salary.

Could you please run an above-the-fold headline that reads "State workers' average $4,212 less than overall state average," with an accompanying story? That would seem a more meaningful, and still accurate, statement.